Apparatus and method for locking tray of disc drive

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for locking a tray to prevent a tray from being broken by an abnormal operation are provided. The tray-locking apparatus for a disc drive comprising a motor, a power supply unit, and a control unit. The motor is driven to move the tray into or out of the disc drive. The power supply unit supplies power supply to the motor. The control unit controls the power supply unit to cut off the power supply supplied to the motor, if a tray-locking command is input. The tray can be prevented from being opened and broken by carelessness of a user. Further, a current consumption of the disc drive is reducable by cutting off the power supply supplied to the loading motor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 2002-50526, filed Aug. 26, 2002, in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method forlocking a tray in a disc drive, and more particularly, to an apparatusand method for locking a tray to prevent the tray from being broken byan abnormal operation.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Disc drives, such as a compact disc (CD) player, a digitalversatile disc (DVD) player, and a CD/DVD-ROM (read only memory) drive,drive optical discs. A tray for a disc drive is a mechanism on which theoptical disc is loaded. The tray is constructed to be movable into andout of the disc drive in a straight line due to a rotation of a loadingmotor included in the disc drive.

[0006] If a tray opening command is input, the tray is moved out of thedisc drive, and if a tray closure command is input, the tray is movedinto the disc drive. The tray opening and closure commands may be inputusing a button on a front panel of the disc drive or a button on aremote controller to remotely control the disc drive, or by directlypressing a front panel of the tray.

[0007] In a case where the tray is moved into or out of the disc driveby directly pressing the front panel of the tray, the tray may be brokenby carelessness of a user. That is, in a case where the user, who lacksknowledge about the tray, presses the front panel of the traycarelessly, the tray is opened such that the possibility exists that thetray may break. Further, in a case where a user, who lacks experience athandling the disc drive, opens the tray by needlessly pressing anopening button of the tray, the possibility exists for the tray tobreak. For example, in a case where the tray is opened by a child andthe child presses down on the tray or places a foreign object on thetray, the possibility exists for the tray to break.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides an apparatus and method forlocking a tray to prevent a tray from being broken by an abnormaloperation.

[0009] According to an aspect a tray-locking apparatus for a disc driveis provided comprising a motor to move the tray into or out of the discdrive; a power supply unit to supply a power supply to the motor; and acontrol unit to control the power supply unit to cut off the powersupply supplied to the motor, if a tray-locking command is input.

[0010] Additional objects and/or advantages of the invention will be setforth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will beobvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of theinvention.

[0011] The tray-locking apparatus may further comprise a memory which iscontrolled by the control unit if requested that the power supply of thedisc drive be turned off and which stores information to represent atray-locking state.

[0012] If a turn-on related signal of the power supply is input in astate where the power supply of the disc drive is turned off, thecontrol unit may determine whether a tray-locking mode is set dependingon whether the information to represent the tray-locking state is storedin the memory.

[0013] When the power supply of the disc drive is controlled by theturn-on related signal of the power supply, if the information torepresent the tray-locking state is stored in the memory, the controlunit may control the power supply unit to maintain a state where thepower supply is not supplied to the motor.

[0014] The tray-locking apparatus may further comprise a display unitwhich is controlled by the control unit to display the information torepresent the tray-locking state.

[0015] When the tray-locking command is input, if the tray is opened,the control unit may control the motor to move the tray into the discdrive to cut off the power supply supplied to the motor.

[0016] According to another aspect, a method for locking a tray for adisc drive is provided, comprising receiving a tray-locking request; andcutting off a power supply supplied to a motor to move the tray into orout of the disc drive, if the tray-locking request is received.

[0017] The method may further comprise checking whether the tray isopened if the tray-locking request is received; if the tray is opened,driving the motor to close the tray, and then cutting off the powersupply; and if the tray is closed, cutting off the power supply.

[0018] The method may further comprise storing information to representthe tray-locking state, if requested that the power supply of the discdrive be turned off; and turning off the power supply of the disc drive.

[0019] The method may further comprise supplying the power supply tocomponents of the disc drive except for the motor, if a turn-on relatedsignal of the power supply of the disc drive is input in a state wherethe power supply of the disc drive is turned off; checking whether thetray-locking mode is set; and maintaining a state where the power supplyis not supplied to the motor if the tray-locking mode is set.

[0020] The method may further comprise displaying information torepresent the tray-locking state if the tray-locking mode is set.

[0021] The method may further comprise supplying the power supply to themotor if the tray-locking mode is not set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] These and/or other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent and more readily appreciated from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of which:

[0023]FIG. 1 is block diagram of a tray-locking apparatus for a discdrive according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 2 is an operation flow chart of a method of locking a trayaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an operation of requesting that thetray be opened, in the method of locking the tray according to theembodiment of the present invention; and

[0026]FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an operation of requesting a powersupply to be turned on, in a method of locking the tray according to theembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tothe like elements throughout. The embodiment is described below in orderto explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, a tray-locking apparatus includes a commandinput unit 101, a tray 102, a loading motor 103, a power supply unit104, a control unit 105, a memory 106, and a display unit 107.

[0029] The command input unit 101 inputs a command of a user to controlan operation of a disc drive. Thus, a tray-locking request, a request toturn on/off a power supply, a reproduction request of the disc drive anda tray opening/closure command (or a front panel opening/closurecommand) are inputtable via the command input unit 101. The commandinput unit 101 may include a key or a button for an exclusive use ofinputting the tray-locking request, the ON/OFF request to turn on/offthe power supply, the reproduction request of the disc drive, and thetray opening/closure command, respectively.

[0030] After loading a disc (not shown) in the disc drive, if the trayclosure command is applied through the command input unit 101 or a frontpanel of the tray is pressed, the tray 102 is constructed to move intothe disc drive. If the tray opening command is applied through thecommand input unit 101 or the front panel of the tray is pressed in astate where the tray is closed, the tray 102 is constructed to move outof the disc drive.

[0031] The loading motor 103 is controlled by the control unit 105described below to move the tray 102 into or out of the disc drive. Thatis, the tray 102 is moved into or out of the disc drive by driving theloading motor 103. A known method may be used as a method for drivingthe loading motor 103.

[0032] The power supply unit 104 is controlled by the control unit 105to supply the power supply to components of the disc drive, for whichthe power supply is necessary, including the loading motor 103.

[0033] If a tray-locking request signal is received through the commandinput unit 101 in a state where the power supply of the disc drive isturned on, the control unit 105 controls the power supply unit 104 tocut off the power supply supplied to the loading motor 103. In thiscase, the tray 102 is assumed to be closed. If the tray-locking requestsignal is received in a state where the tray 102 is opened, the controlunit 105 controls the loading motor 103 to move the tray 102 into thedisc drive, and thereafter, controls the power supply unit 104 to cutoff the power supply supplied to the loading motor 103.

[0034] If the turn-off request of the power supply of the disc drive issent from the command input unit 101 in a state where a locking modewith respect to the tray 102 is set, the control unit 105 storesinformation to represent the tray-locking state in the memory 106, andthen controls the power supply unit 104 to turn off the power supply ofthe disc drive.

[0035] If the power supply of the disc drive is turned off through theabove-described processes, and thereafter, a turn-on related signal ofthe power supply of the disc drive is input through the command inputunit 101, the control unit 105 controls the power supply unit 104 toturn on the power supply of the disc drive. At this time, the controlunit 105 controls the power supply unit 104 to prevent the power supplyfrom being supplied to the loading motor 103.

[0036] Next, the control unit 105 checks whether the information torepresent the tray-locking state is stored in the memory 106. If theinformation to represent the tray-locking state is stored in the memory106, the control unit 105 controls the power supply unit 104 to maintaina state where the power supply is not supplied to the loading motor 103.Further, the control unit 105 controls the display unit 107 to displaythe information to represent the tray-locking state.

[0037] However, if the locking mode with respect to the tray 102 isdetermined not to be set based on the information stored in the memory106, the control unit 105 controls the power supply unit 104 to supplythe power supply to the loading motor 103.

[0038] The turn-on related signal of the power supply may include aturn-on signal of the power supply, a tray opening request signal, andthe reproduction request signal of the disc drive. In a case where thetray opening request signal of the disc drive is input and the lockingmode with respect to the tray 102 is not set, the control unit 105controls the power supply unit 104 to supply the power supply to theloading motor 103, and thereafter, controls the loading motor 103 sothat the tray 102 is opened. If the reproduction request signal is inputand the locking mode with respect to the tray 102 is not set, thecontrol unit 105 controls the power supply unit 104 to supply the powersupply to the loading motor 103, and thereafter, controls a reproductionmode with respect to the disc loaded in the tray 102.

[0039] The memory 106 is a nonvolatile memory. Thus, the memory 106stores information although the power supply of the disc drive is turnedoff.

[0040] The display unit 107 is constructed to display informationrepresenting the locking state with respect to the tray 102. Theinformation to represent the tray-locking state may be expressed as aletter or a figure, etc.

[0041]FIG. 2 is an operation flow chart of a method of locking the trayaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] If the locking request signal with respect to the tray 102 isreceived, whether the tray 102 is opened is checked in operation S201.If the tray 102 is closed, the power supply supplied to the loadingmotor 103 is cut off in operation S202. However, if the tray 102 isopened, the loading motor 103 is controlled to automatically close thetray 102 in operation S203, and thereafter, operation S202 is processed.

[0043] If the signal to request the power supply to be turned off isdetermined to be received in operation S204, the control unit 105 storesthe information to represent the tray-locking state in the memory 106 inoperation S205. Thereafter, the power supply of the disc drive is turnedoff in operation S206. However, if the signal to request the powersupply to be turned off is determined not to be received in operationS204, the operation mode of operation S202 is maintained. The cutoff ofthe power supply supplied to the loading motor 103 may be stopped by arequest to unlock the tray 102.

[0044]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an operation of requesting the trayto be opened after turning off the power supply of the disc drive, in amethod of locking the tray according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0045] If the tray is requested be opened, the power supply of the discdrive is turned on in operation S301. At this time, the power supply isnot supplied to the loading motor 103. Whether the locking mode withrespect to the tray 102 is set is checked in operation S302. Further,whether the locking mode with respect to the tray 102 is set based onthe information stored in the memory 106 is determined. That is, if theinformation to represent the tray-locking state is stored in the memory106, the locking mode with respect to the tray 102 is determined to beset. If the information to represent the tray-locking state is notstored in the memory 106, the locking mode with respect to the tray 102is determined not to be set.

[0046] If the locking mode with respect to the tray 102 is determined tobe set in operation S302, the information to represent the locking modewith respect to the tray 102 is displayed in operation S303. At thistime, a state where the power supply is not supplied to the loadingmotor 103 is maintained.

[0047] However, when the locking mode with respect to the tray 102 isdetermined not to be set in operation S302, the control unit 105controls the power supply unit 104 to supply the power supply to theloading motor 103 and controls the loading motor 103 so that the tray102 is opened in operation S304.

[0048]FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an operation of requesting that thepower supply is turned on in a state where the power supply of the discdrive is turned off, in a method of locking the tray according to theembodiment of the present invention.

[0049] If the turn-on request signal of the power supply is input, thepower supply of the disc drive is turned on in operation S401. At thistime, the power supply is not supplied to the loading motor 103. Whetherthe locking mode with respect to the tray 102 is set is determined inoperation S402. Whether the locking mode with respect to the tray 102 isset is determined by the method used in operation S302 of FIG. 3.

[0050] If the locking mode with respect to the tray 102 is determined tobe set in operation S402, the information to represent the locking modewith respect to the tray 102 is displayed on the display unit 107 inoperation S403. At this time, a state where the power supply is notsupplied to the loading motor 103 is maintained.

[0051] However, if the locking mode with respect to the tray 102 isdetermined not to be set in operation S402, the control unit 105controls the power supply unit 104 to supply the power supply to theloading motor 103 in operation S404.

[0052] Further, even if the power supply is turned on by a signalrequesting the disc drive to be reproduced, the present invention can beapplied. That is, if the signal requesting the disc drive to bereproduced is input, the power supply is supplied to the componentsincluded in the disc drive except for the loading motor 103. Thereafter,whether the locking mode with respect to the tray 102 is set isdetermined. If the locking mode with respect to the tray 102 isdetermined to be set, the information to represent the locking mode withrespect to the tray 102 is displayed and simultaneously a normalreproduction mode on the disc loaded in the disc drive is performed. Atthis time, the power supply is not supplied to the loading motor 103.However, if the locking mode with respect to the tray 102 is determinednot to be set, the normal reproduction mode with respect to the discloaded on the tray 102 is preformed while supplying the power supply tothe loading motor 103.

[0053] As described above, the tray-locking mode is set by cutting offthe power supply supplied to the loading motor and is maintained in astate where the power supply of the disc drive is turned off, and as aresult, the tray can be prevented from being opened and broken bycarelessness of the user.

[0054] Further, when the tray-locking mode is set, a current consumptionof the disc drive is reduceable by cutting off the power supply suppliedto the loading motor.

[0055] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in this embodiment without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for locking a tray of a disc drive,comprising: a motor driven to move the tray into or out of the discdrive; a power supply unit to supply a power supply to the motor; and acontrol unit to control the power supply unit to cut off the powersupply supplied to the motor, if a tray-locking command is input.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a memory which is controlledby the control unit if the power supply of the disc drive is requestedto be turned off and which stores information to represent atray-locking state.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein if a turn-onrelated signal of the power supply is input in a state when the powersupply of the disc drive is turned off, the control unit determineswhether a tray-locking mode is set depending on whether the informationrepresenting the tray-locking state is stored in the memory.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 3, wherein when the power supply of the disc drive iscontrolled by the turn-on related signal of the power supply, if theinformation to represent the tray-locking state is stored in the memory,the control unit controls the power supply unit to maintain a statewhere the power supply is not supplied to the motor.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 3, further comprising: a display unit which is controlled by thecontrol unit to display the information representing the tray-lockingstate.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display unitwhich is controlled by the control unit to display informationrepresenting the tray-locking state.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein when the tray-locking command is input, if the tray is opened,the control unit controls the motor to move the tray into the disc driveand to cut off the power supply supplied to motor.
 8. A method oflocking a tray for a disc drive, comprising: receiving a tray-lockingrequest; and cutting off a power supply supplied to a motor driven tomove the tray into or out of the disc drive, if the tray-locking requestis received.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: checkingwhether the tray is open if the tray-locking request is received;driving the motor to close the tray if the tray is open, and cutting offthe power supply; and cutting off the power supply if the tray isclosed.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: storinginformation representing a tray-locking state, if the power supply ofthe disc drive is requested to be turned off; and turning off the powersupply of the disc drive.
 11. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising: supplying the power supply to components of the disc driveexcept for the motor, if a turn-on related signal of the power supply ofthe disc drive is input in a state where the power supply of the discdrive is turned off; checking whether a tray-locking mode is set; andmaintaining a state where the power supply is not supplied to the motorif the tray-locking mode is set.
 12. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: displaying information representing the tray-locking stateif the tray-locking mode is set.
 13. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising: displaying information representing a tray-locking state ifa tray-locking mode is set.
 14. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: supplying the power supply to the motor if the tray-lockingmode is not set.
 15. An apparatus for locking a tray of a disc drive,and including a motor to move the tray into or out of the disc drive anda power supply unit to power the motor, comprising: a control unit tocontrol the power supply unit to stop the motor, if a tray-lockingcommand is input.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controlunit prevents the power supply unit from supplying power to the motor tostop the motor when the tray-locking command is input.
 17. The apparatusof claim 15, further comprising: a memory to store informationrepresenting a tray-locking state and communicating with the controlunit if a request to be turned off the power supply unit is received bythe control unit.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the memory is anonvolatile memory.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controlunit determines whether a tray-locking mode is set according to whetherinformation representing the tray-locking state is stored in the memory.20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the control unit determineswhether a tray-locking mode is set, if a turn-on related signal is inputwhen the disc drive is turned off,
 21. The apparatus of claim 20,wherein the control unit controls the power supply unit to maintain astate where the power supply is not supplied to the motor when theturn-on related signal controls the power supply unit and thetray-locking state information is stored in the memory.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 21, further comprising: a display unit to display thetray-locking state information.
 23. The apparatus of claim 15, whereinwhen the tray-locking command is input and the tray is in an openposition, the control unit controls the motor to move the tray into thedisc drive and, after moving tray into the disc drive, to cut off thepower supply supplied to motor.
 24. The apparatus of claim 15, furthercomprising: a command input unit to input at least a tray-lockingrequest, a request to turn on/off a power supply, a reproduction requestof the disc drive and a tray opening/closure command.
 25. The apparatusof claim 24, wherein the command input unit comprises: one or more keysand/or buttons exclusively used to input the tray-locking request, therequest to turn on/off the power supply, the reproduction request of thedisc drive, and the tray opening/closure command, respectively.
 26. Theapparatus of claim 15, wherein if a signal is input requesting areproduction of the disc drive, the power is supplied to all componentsincluded in the disc drive except for the motor, whether the lockingmode is set is determined, and a reproduction mode on a disc loaded inthe disc drive is performed and power is supplied or is not supplied tothe motor according to a determined result.
 27. A method of locking atray for a disc drive, comprising: receiving a tray-locking request; andcutting off a supply of power to a motor to prevent a movement of thetray into or out of the disc drive, after the tray-locking request isreceived.
 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising: determiningwhether the tray is in an open position after the tray-locking requestis received; driving the motor to move the tray into a closed positionif the tray is in the open position and cutting off the power supply;and cutting off the power supply if the tray is closed.
 29. The methodof claim 27, further comprising: storing information of a tray-lockingstate, if the power supply of the disc drive is requested to be turnedoff; and turning off the power supply of the disc drive whilemaintaining the storage of the track-locking state information.
 30. Themethod of claim 27, further comprising: supplying the power tocomponents of the disc drive except for the motor, if a turn-on relatedsignal is input in a state when the power supply is turned off;determining whether a tray-locking mode is set; and preventing the powersupply from supplying the power to the motor if the tray-locking mode isset.
 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising: displayinginformation of a tray-locking state if the tray-locking mode is set. 32.The method of claim 30, further comprising: supplying the power to themotor if the tray-locking mode is not set.
 33. The method of claim 27,further comprising: if a signal is input requesting a reproduction ofthe disc drive, supplying power to all components included in the discdrive except for the motor; determining whether the locking mode is set;and performing a reproduction mode on a disc loaded in the disc driveand supplying the power or preventing the supplying of the power to themotor according to the determining.